Ex-cop in court for dog death

-Protesters ask for harsh treatment.

-Protesters ask for harsh treatment.

February 24, 2006|MARTI GOODLAD HELINE Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A handful of protesters carried signs supporting animal rights as former St. Joseph County police officer Curt Seufert made his initial court appearance Thursday on an animal cruelty charge. With colorful signs reading "Animal Rights Lose in Indiana," "Muzzle Me," "1st a Dog, Next What," or "If you do it to a dog, will you do it to a child?" the demonstrators walked along Lafayette Boulevard in front of the 1855 Courthouse. That is where Seufert and his lawyer appeared briefly in the traffic and misdemeanor division of Superior Court. A magistrate entered an automatic not guilty plea and set Seufert's next court date, April 13. Seufert left without comment. Asked why the protestors were out in the freezing early morning temperatures, Rosemary Echard replied, "We're dog lovers." The four women are concerned that Seufert still could serve as a law enforcement officer -- even if convicted of the animal cruelty charge -- because it is a misdemeanor not a felony. "If he attacks a dog, what might he do if he was arresting someone?" Becky Kaiser asked. Kaiser said the idea for the demonstration came a few days ago as the women were sitting around the kitchen table drinking coffee. The four women, who are relatives, wanted to focus attention on the issue of animal rights rather than just on Seufert, according to Kaiser. Earlier this month, a county grand jury indicted Seufert, 32, of South Bend, on a misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal. He is accused of beating to death an Akita owned by his girlfriend, South Bend police officer Jennifer Radican, on the night of Nov. 25-26. Radican, who had lived with Seufert, arrived home from her part-time job to find her dog dead in the basement and another dog cowering upstairs. The dog reportedly suffered a broken back and leg injuries and may have been hit with a baseball bat, according to officials. Radican told police she and Seufert had argued before she left for her part-time job. The demonstrators said they would like to see a judge hand Seufert the maximum sentence, if convicted, of a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. "He should get counseling, too," Kaiser said. Kaiser said she and the others are sending letters to local state legislators seeking to have cruelty to animal charges upgraded in seriousness. With the injuries reported to Radican's dog, the women believe Seufert should be facing a more severe charge. The main difference between a misdemeanor and felony cruelty to animal charge is the ability to prove the animal was tortured. Radican obtained a protective order against Seufert after the incident. During the hearing, she said his conduct while angry had progressively escalated from throwing objects to kicking and choking her dogs.